Thirty Reasons Not to Date a Player

22. You Can't Escape His Past

A/N: I had no school today so I decided to update! Enjoy! :)

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The last thing I want to do is go to work today. 

But going straight home after school means that I'll have free time on my hands, and I refuse to waste another second thinking about Ryder. 

I still can't believe that I got my first-ever detention slip over his idiocy. 

"Hey Daniel," I say, rather awkwardly, as I enter the ice cream shop. He waves at me from behind the counter, and I can tell that he's only acknowledging me out of common courtesy. 

Things are so weird between us now and I hate it. 

I head to the back room, where I put down my bag and reluctantly change into my work uniform. It doesn't suit me; the bright pink blouse and baby blue apron contrast too sharply with my miserable expression. My hair had been tousled and blown in all directions on the way over here because I had to take the bus. I try to fix it by running my fingers through the roots, but it doesn't help much.

Mel wasn't in school today because she had come down with a cold over the weekend, according to April. She didn't mention anything else, which means that either April has developed some killer acting skills or Mel really hasn't told her anything about me and Ryder. 

Maybe there's still time to apologize and explain that I'm done with him before this whole thing gets blown way out of proportion.

I head back to the front of the store where I find Daniel wiping down some of the tables. He doesn't look up at me, and I busy myself by organizing a bunch cardboard ice cream cups. The store is as empty as ever; most people don't go out to buy ice cream in the middle of November.

"At least its almost Thanksgiving," I say, trying to fill the silence.

"My parents aren't big on American holidays," Daniel replies. He's mentioned before that his mom and dad are both from Wales. Although they've been living here for twenty years or so, they don't seem to consider themselves real New Yorkers. 

"I'm glad it's only a three day week," I say. There's no school on Thursday or Friday, which means four whole days away from Ryder and all his drama. 

I can hardly wait. 

Daniel doesn't respond, and I find myself wishing for a customer to walk in so that we'd have something to do other than make awkward small-talk. Dealing with a guy who very possibly likes you while you like someone else is a risky business. 

But when Nicolette Falcetti walks into the parlor, I finally understand what is meant by the phrase, "be careful what you wish for." 

I feel like I'm going to be sick, and the expression on Daniel's face suggests that he doesn't feel too great either. 

"Can we help you?" I choke out, struggling to keep a straight face. 

Nicolette offers me an awkward smile in return. "I um, I don't really know how to say this so I'm just going to spit it out," she begins, "I wanted to say I'm sorry about the way I treated you before. I was being a total jealous bitch and I really should have been nicer about ... things." 

I don't know what I was expecting to come out of her mouth but it was certainly not that. 

"Can you...give us a minute?" I ask Daniel, deciding that I don't think Nicolette means me any harm. He nods curtly before heading into the back room. I step out from behind the counter and motion for Nicolette to follow me. We sit down at a table near the window.